The Trump administration has abruptly slashed hundreds of jobs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded media outlets, leaving contractors scrambling and programs silenced. The move, part of wider federal cuts, impacts global news networks like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, with services now airing music instead of fresh content. 🎶📻
🚨 Behind the Layoffs
Contractors—many non-U.S. citizens relying on their jobs for visas—received emails ordering them to ‘cease all work immediately.’ Full-time staff remain on administrative leave, their futures uncertain. ‘It’s chaos,’ said one employee, who asked to remain anonymous. 🌍💔
The cuts follow an executive order targeting VOA’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which had requested $950 million in funding this year. Critics argue the decision undermines international journalism and leaves critical information gaps. 📉🗞️
🌐 Global Ripple Effects
From Washington to Warsaw, teams are frozen. Programs in Mandarin, Russian, and Farsi—key tools in U.S. soft power—face indefinite hiatus. Meanwhile, employees fear deportation if their visas expire. ‘This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about voices being erased,’ another staffer told AFP. 💬🌏
